Photo : Google
Deputy President Paul Mashatile recently made his first public appearance following a health scare in Tzaneen, Limpopo, where he collapsed during a speech at the N’wamitwa Day commemoration. After taking a week off from his official duties on the advice of his medical team, Mashatile returned to his role, acting as President while President Cyril Ramaphosa was in the US. His first public engagement was at the Heritage Day celebration held at Meqheleng Stadium in Ficksburg, Free State.
In his keynote address, Mashatile underscored the need to address the impact of climate change on South Africa’s heritage and culture. He pointed out that severe weather conditions, which recently affected parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Free State, have been exacerbated by climate change. Mashatile stressed the importance of investing in technology to improve weather forecasting, which would provide early warnings for storms, heat waves, and other natural disasters, potentially saving lives.
“In celebrating our heritage, we must recognise the impact of climate change on our well-being and culture. The extreme weather conditions we’ve seen in recent weeks have damaged some of our cultural and heritage sites, undermining our efforts to protect and preserve these sites for future generations,” he said.
He also called on the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture to explore policy measures regarding the effects of climate change on historical heritage and to offer guidance on preserving the nation’s identity. Mashatile noted that, with Heritage Month coinciding with Tourism Month, it is crucial to promote heritage sites as key tourist destinations while celebrating South Africa’s rich cultural diversity and traditions.
Reflecting on the significance of Heritage Month, Mashatile acknowledged the sacrifices made by those who fought against apartheid. He also announced that, as part of ongoing efforts to honour South Africa’s freedom fighters, the government had planned a homecoming ceremony for the repatriation of the remains of struggle stalwarts from Zambia and Zimbabwe. These include Advocate Duma Nokwe, Mama Florence Mophosho, and Basil February.
“The exhumation, spiritual repatriation, and reburial project are just a few of the significant activities happening during this month. In addition to the heroes and heroines of our liberation struggle, we also pay tribute to the many remarkable individuals across various fields who contributed to our freedom,” Mashatile said.
